Wheels inbox: Infotainment has gone too far, and which old hot hatch to buy?

Wheels magazine has always had a passionate audience, with a thriving letters section. Here's the latest from our readers.

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Palette knifed

🖊️ Robert Ius, Haberfield, NSW

After reading the latest garage report on the Subaru Outback, one thing that needs to be put into context is the statement that there is no additional charge for metallic, pearl or silica paint colours.

The reason is that Subaru Australia no longer imports cars with traditional solid paint colours.

Hence today the recommended retail prices already include the extra cost for metallic, pearl and silica colours. If plain solid colours were offered in Australia, these cars would be close to $1000 cheaper and metallic, pearl and silica colours would be listed as an extra cost.

Mazda Australia applies the same import strategy to their Australian cars as it is a simple way to make larger profit margins and give consumers the false impression they are getting metallic, pearl or silica paint colours for free.

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Sweet as, bro

🖊️ Alex, New Zealand

I am in the market for a hot hatch in the range of $20K NZD. This is going to be my first car and I need something reliable, safe to please my parents, but also must be fun in manual. I’m looking at a ‘19 Swift Sport with around 50,000km, a ‘13 Fiesta ST with around 90,000km, or possibly even a ‘14 Megane RS265 with over 100,000km.

I like the look of the Swift being quite new and knowing it will be reliable, plus with lower kays and insurance costs, while also being better on fuel. For the Fiesta and Megane, I know they have been highly rated but I’m not sure on insurance, fuel, reliability or other owners previously thrashing them. From what I’ve seen, the Megane RS looks much too fast for me but I’m not sure about the Fiesta ST.

So, what do you think the money should be spent on? Should I play it safe with the Swift? Are there any other options that you can think of? Thanks.

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Touchy subject

🖊️ Robert Ius, Haberfield, NSW

The current trend of single/dual multimedia and control interface touchscreens displacing all buttons and switches for even basic functions (seat heating, fan speed, temperature, volume etc) is a critical ergonomic disaster dictated by cost savings, with poor regard to driver safety design.

It is well documented that the number one cause of accidents is driver distraction, and the use of control touchscreens that require visual interaction with the screen needlessly increases the rate of driver distraction.

The distraction caused by operating touchscreens while driving is no different to texting on a mobile phone while driving. Vehicle manufacturers need to be held accountable for this dangerous safety oversight.

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The technology already exists to freeze touch-control actions while a vehicle is moving, with control actions executed merely via voice control (or simply reintroducing the most common switches).

It appears most manufacturers are doing nothing in this critical safety area until legislation forces them to make the obvious safety changes. Any new car that does not incorporate sound driver safety ergonomics and an uncomplicated user-friendly dash design will be off my next car shopping list.

Kudos to Mazda for having the design fortitude of placing driver safety at the forefront of their new dash designs.

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Say something!

🖊️ Alan Dowling, via email

I was fascinated and entertained by Andy Enright’s editorial in the October issue. The vanilla consensus among motoring writers is something that has long bothered me.

It’s almost as if – and correct me if I’m way off-beam here – junior journalists are following in a long tradition of repeating the opinions of senior staff and thus the cycle continues.

Bill Tuckey’s opinions were absolutely his own. As are those of the likes of Mel Nichols and Dave Morley. You’d never call LJK Setright or David C. Davis derivative. Cutting to the chase, I’d like to say that automotive journalism should value those voices that are unafraid to speak their own truth or come up with an original thought once in a while. It’s surprisingly rare.

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Happy COTY chappie

🖊️ David Taverner, Indooroopilly, QLD

I just bought a Ford Everest. It’s a bloody ripper. Thanks for the tip.

The Wheels question to you

Does the spec of a car’s stereo play a significant part in your buying decision?

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Want to have your say? Keep it tight (no more than 200 words) and include your suburb if via email: wheels@wheelsmag.com.au. You can also chime in on Facebook & Instagram.